Two new heart imaging products, Cardiolite and CardioTec, are now available to help physicians identify and evaluate heart attacks and other coronary artery disease without using invasive procedures.
Cardiolite, approved Dec. 21, 1990, consists of a chemical called sestamibi that migrates and binds to undamaged heart muscle. The sestamibi is tagged with technetium Tc99m, a radioisotope that allows a gamma camera to image the heart. The product was developed by researchers at Du Pont Merck Co., Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
When Cardiolite is injected into the bloodstream, doctors can trace its flow through the heart to assess damage from a heart attack and evaluate the heart's pumping action as well. Cardiolite allows imaging of the heart up to four hours after injection. This is a much longer period than was possible using thallium TI 201, a widely used cardiac imaging isotope.
CardioTec, approved Dec. 19, 1990, consists of a chemical called teboroxime, which, like sestamibi, is radio-labeled with technetium Tc 99m. It is used to evaluate heart attacks as well as ischemic heart disease (partial obstruction of coronary blood flow) and is measured using stress-rest techniques.
According to the manufacturer, a typical stress-rest test can be completed within one-and-a-half to two hours using CardioTec, whereas a thallium study usually requires four or more hours to complete.
Cardiolite is marketed by the Du Pont Merck Pharmaceutical Co., Wilmington. CardioTec is sold by BristolMyers Squibb Co., Princeton, N.J.
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